Newsletter 4 – News and events
December 2024
The project DIVAGRI has designed and realised the workshop entitled: “exploring global collaboration opportunities for universities in the bioeconomy field”, building upon the invaluable experiences of the farmers participating in the project. This initiative was a key feature of DIVAGRI’s active participation in the Global Bioeconomy Summit (GBS2024) held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 23-24 October 2024.
One of the key insights gained from the workshop was a powerful sentiment voiced during a working group discussion: the establishment of an African bioeconomy network, spearheaded by universities across the continent, is essential for making a meaningful and impactful contribution to global bioeconomy debates.
The structured, blended online-physical workshop, conducted on Thursday, 24 October 2024, at 11:30 local time (10:00 CEST-CAT), brought together small-scale farmers from various African countries.
Pictured. DIVAGRI partner Organisers of the workshop
The workshop provided a platform for farmers to share their practical experiences and challenges in transitioning to a circular bioeconomy. By incorporating both physical and digital participation, the event fostered a rich exchange of ideas on the implementation of bio-based technologies to support sustainable agricultural practices. Farmers shared the insights they gained through their involvement in DIVAGRI, sparking meaningful discussions about the feasibility of achieving significant bioeconomy transitions by 2044.
This inclusive and participatory approach bridges the gap between local farming communities and the broader global bioeconomy discourse. It amplifies the voices of those directly engaged in this transformation, offering their unique perspectives and contributing to the collective understanding of sustainable solutions.
Participants in the workshop emphasised the importance of African universities developing their unique perspectives on bioeconomy priorities before engaging globally. Dr Kyayesimira, representing BioInnovate Africa, advocated for a network that integrates ecological concerns, social justice, and cross-cutting themes such as gender and youth.
The workshop examined existing university-led bioeconomy networks, like the European Bioeconomy University Alliance and the Latin American Bioeconomy Network, as models. These networks differ in structure, with the former developed through collaboration among top European universities and the latter evolving organically through NGO and community partnerships. Both provided insights into fostering regional collaboration.
The proposed African bioeconomy network would begin with universities and expand to include governments, businesses, NGOs, and the African Union. Participants stressed the importance of transdisciplinary discussions and knowledge exchange strategies to drive sustainable development. Globally, over 70 countries already have bioeconomy strategies, with Africa making strides through initiatives like South Africa’s dedicated strategy, Namibia’s recently launched framework, and the East African Community’s regional bioeconomy strategy.